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Classmates!!!! How time flies. Another
year has come and gone. I hope that you and yours had a year filled with
adventures and, of course, memories. The year 2006 saw us lose TWO
of our dear classmates. We lost Clifford Antone in April
and I just found out that we lost Donnie Wade on New Years Eve.
That is 53 known deceased classmates. Too many, too soon. Please
take my advice and live life to the fullest. Live each day like it is
your last. Talk to long-lost relatives, friends, neighbors you pass
every day. Why not? You will see that some of our
classmates have done just that!!! I have received the greatest
volume of MAIL CALL to date for this UPDATE. These
classmates reached out to me just to keep in touch with YOU! The MAIL
CALL section of the UPDATES has definitely been "voted" Most Popular when
listening to you. So, keep up the communication if you want me to continue
writing this for the WEBSITE. Okay, now get your spectacles on
because it is going to be a LONG ONE! Here goes.....
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MAIL CALL
from Casey Arredondo
Girl, it's good to hear from you!!! I'm sending you my home adress.... 6648 Val
St., Groves, TX 77619. It would be good to hear from you...
Temporarily, I'm home bound. Fell and busted my hip. My phone is (409)
9620932 and cell is (409)719-2071. Funny, how this brush with gettin'
old has brought back memories of all of you walkin' the halls of school? Plenty
to talk about...
(Give Casey a holler if you get a chance. I bet the days get
lonnnggg when you are recuperating).
from Bart Darby
Linda, I did not know you were born May 5th.
I was born May 1 at St. Mary's. I wonder if my Mom was still in the
hospital with me when ya'll were born.
(You will need to check out my UPDATE of 12-19-06 to understand this
message)
from Kenny Bragg
The website looks great. I really appreciate the work you and Mike
have put into this. Sorry I haven't communicated earlier. I just
went through the proverbial corporate restructuring. International Paper
sold their land base (over 5 million acres) and after 30 years with IP, I
am now working for the new management company - Resource Management Service, LLC
- as Region Manager for the Arkansas Region. Things have worked out well
and am actually better off now than before - still in the same location with the
same land base, about 300,000 acres, and a much smaller company. I
have certainly enjoyed catching up on where everyone is located. I was
looking through all of the addresses and it looks like I'm the only one who
landed in Arkansas. We do like the small town life and are well settled
here. Our son Aaron - not married - just moved to Little Rock from
Dallas. Our daughter Melissa - not married - is still in Dallas.
My brother, Bart Bragg, is still in PA so maybe we will be down sometime
this summer. Take care and thanks again for all the hard work on the
updates.
(I just love this guy. He still has that shy little
smile. Tell Smokey the Bear "hi" for me, Kenny).
from Stephen Simonton
The only time I ever see you is at Market Basket in Bridge City about every 5
years. Ha Ha. Gene Baskin thought I should drop you a line
since your keeping up with all us old folks.
(Thank you, Gene, for hooking up Stephen with my e-mail address)
from Glenda Patin
I just loved what you wrote about those of you born within days of
each other at St. Mary's Hospital during the first week of May, 1950. It
made me curious as to who from our class (besides me) was born on or about
September 29, 1950, at St. Mary's Hospital.
(Well, do we have any late September early October birthdays that
year?)
from Jude Arisco
It's been a crazy fall for Cindy and I, but all is well.
We are on our way to see Cindy's mom and two sisters in Kansas City, Mo. for the
Christmas holiday, then afterwards move in to our "fishing shack" on
the coast during New Years. Many blessings to both of you...good
health..much prosperity..and keep safe. Thanks, also, Linda for
all the hard work you have put in on the web site...you have
"mothered" us from our high school days right up to the present and I
want to say THANK YOU very much.
(Jude is still hysterical to be around. After
listening to him and his cousin, Paul Colletti tell high school
stories....hmmm. I sure was naive.)
from Gary Barbin
I read all your emails and thanks for keeping me in the loop.
I'm the quiet, silent, observer so I rarely reply, but I finally visited
the TJ website and was blown away. It is an incredible tribute to you and
Mike to have such a rich, informative, and hi tech place to visit that rekindles
the good (and bad) memories of the place that morphed each of us. I
feel reconnected again and will visit the site regularly. You and Murphy
are our only connection to PA now that my parents have moved to Waco, and Jody
and I will get back to PA in the new year to visit.
(I really look up to this guy! He was smart
enough to marry my best friend from high school who also served as my
matron of honor!!)
from Glenn McGee
I really enjoyed the updates/photos. I have some group photo of
DeQueen Elementary I need to send you. In the GROUP PHOTOS on the website,
page 3, Robert E. Lee 6th Grade photo; the boy on the third row, third boy is Danny
Phares.
(Good eye, Sherlock. Now, if we could get Danny
to send us his e-mail address. I have mailed him a card, but didn't get a
response. Classmates, any help here?)
from Pat Trahan Knox
Happy New Year to everyone! My husband and I celebrated 33
wonderful years of marriage on December 29. We feel very blessed and are
hoping for many, many more. The last two years have been trying...we lost my dad
in December of 2004; we lost Ray's mother in August of 2005; then, Hurrican Rita
hit; I had sinus surgery in October of 2005; and we lost my mother in February
of 2006. One very bright spot, however, was my youngest son getting married on
December 10, 2005. We gained a precious daughter-in-law and my mother was able
to attend the wedding she had so looked forward to. We couldn't have chosen a
better daughter if we had tried. We feel so lucky that we had our
wonderful parents as long as we did. It's been very hard for me, as my mother
was indeed my best friend, outside of my husband. She was the most selfless
person I've ever known. She was everything I aspire to be. Both of my sons are
really good men, if I do say so myself. I am wishing each of you the best of new
year. I count my blessings every day, and each of you are part of them. I'm
already looking forward to our 2008 reunion. Again, I want to thank everyone who
keeps our website going so we can hear about all of our classmates. I love
hearing about all of you.
(I appreciate all the "news" you send.
It is always fun to hear from you.)
from Ronnie Campbell
Hello Linda: Just wanted to tell you what a great website
you and Mike Lawson have created for our 1968 TJ graduating class. Thanks
for all your efforts. I greatly enjoyed seeing old classmates (well, not
really that OLD!) If you would like, you can put my web address with the
others MySpace website is http://myspace.com/117142405 if
you would care to check it out.
I have lived here in Port Arthur all my life. I retired from Huntsman this
December, and so far, I have enjoyed "chillin-out". I worked
with Bill Richey in Human Resources. Hope you had a great
holiday season - and will look forward to attending our 40-year reunion.
(Retirement!!! I bet lots of your fellow classmates are
jealous!)
from Florence "Sissie" Woods
Just wanted to let you know that Ken (my husband) passed away a
few weeks ago. We are still not sure of the cause of death at this time,
but from all indications it was a massive heart attack. Ken was at our
last reunion and loved it and was looking forward to going to the next one.
He passed away on our Anniversary. Keep me in your prayers. It's a
very tough time of year to lose someone.
In memory of:
Ken Kilcrease
November 20, 2006
(We will pray for you and your sad times during your
mourning, sweet friend.)
from David Williams
Things are hectic with two teenage daughters, 17 and
15, but would not have it any other way. Maybe I'll write an update
between Christmas and New Years.
(While editing David's message, I left out some
really sweet words that meant a lot to me. David and I have stayed in
touch since meeting in high school. He is a very special friend.)
from Jane Lippincott Koerth
All of us are so lucky to have you and Mike willing to spend
countless hours trying to keep everyone informed of what’s new, what’s old,
and what’s coming!!
(Mike and I are the lucky ones to have classmates
that stay in touch as much as you do. Thanks for all the kind words.)
from Gayle Snider Davis
I was pleased to get your postcard and learn there is a website
for our class-very impressive. It was fun to check it out. I am
headed out at the crack of dawn tomorrow to fly to Texas to visit with my
family. My folks moved to Marble Falls (near Austin) a number of years
ago, so I don't make it to Port Arthur anymore. I do talk with and see
Lynn Eldridge Gill every once in a while, and she tries to keep me up
on news from the Port Arthur crew.
(Welcome to our mailing list. We love getting
new members to share our news.)
from Raymond Belz
Happy New Year!!! I wanted to be sure to send you my change
of e-mail address. Thank you both for all you do for the class of '68.
(I loved the photo you sent in of you and your lovely
wife. Thanks also for the e-mail change. That is how you stay in the
loop).
from West Nielsen
I like what you've done with the web site - I do peruse it
from time to time and always enjoy receiving your updates. It's interesting
to read of where and what others from our TJ class are and what they're
doing. Please keep up the good work.
How are we doing ? - well, muddling through life like
everyone else I guess. This past summer we (wife,2 kids, & I) drove
out to Las Vegas, saw the sights along the way and then drove back home to
Fairfax, Virginia - photos I sent show a few highlights from the trip. The
girls, Kasha & Nina are 12 and 8, take ballet, are doing well in school
and are a general delight. Beata's family is in Krakow, Poland so we go
visit them about every other year.
(Your vacation pics are terrific. Thanks for
sharing. Don't forget to get David Aucoin's e-mail address for me.)
from Janette Light Norton
We were in PA just for 24 hours to visit Richard's mom and
sister. Perhaps I'll be back again this summer if we can convince
Richard's mom to have the knee replacement she so badly needs. My mother
has been back again in the hospital, but I think the stent place in an arterial
artery will take care of many of the problems.
I need your address so that I can send you some website money.
I was the first to offer, but the slowest to respond. Your contribution of
time and love to our class has been the greatest healer that any of us could
hope for. I've heard and read a lot about the second childhood that
seniors go through, but I never expected it to be in the form of a web page.
Just before Thanksgiving, I was able to meet Carol Bonin
for lunch in Lubbock. She is completing her Masters degree and was in
to finalize some coursework. Thanks, also, for the picture of Linda
King. I love that girl--in fact, some of the people I have
the fondest memories of have last names that start with K, L, and M---Remember
how we were always placed in alphabetical order? Sitting together in
junior high and high school for more than a few classes a day create lifetime
memories. We definitely weren't just taking notes from the teacher.
If you were fortunate to have homeroom together, you really had time to share a
few laughs and talk about really important things, like boys or the football
games or BOYS!! Anyway, I hope that maybe Linda King and
I can get together sometime. Unless she has moved, I think she is living
in my part of Texas. (Sorry, but Linda has moved to Montgomery).
Thanks to everyone who has sent in new pictures. I'm still
hoping someone has pictures of our 4th grade Olympics at Sam Houston Elementary.
I moved to PA too late for the train ride and circus, so that is one of the
biggest memories I have.
Happy New Year to you and everyone!
(You have to just be around Janette in person to
really see how bubbly she really is. She is such a DOWNER in her
messages!!! NOT!)
from Nancy Decker Primeaux
We wish you a wonderful New Year filled with all good things.
(How was your first WEST TEXAS Christmas?
Did you decorate a cactus?)
Remember I told you at the top of my UPDATE to contact friends?
Well, Linda Hopper Hunt called me today out of the blue
"JUST BECAUSE" she decided not to wait any longer. She said that
she thinks of me and our fun times (especially Woodrow Wilson when she was my
"second best friend....after Charlotte Pace"). What a
great (too short) conversation we had. Linda H hasn't
been on my mailing list because she didn't have a computer. Now she
does and we will get her SIGNED up as soon as she sends me her e-mail address.
She works at the Ramada Inn in Port Arthur on Hwy 73 as the
EVENTS COORDINATOR. Hmmm. Our 40th Reunion will
be coming up in 2008. Welcome, Linda H.
Glad to have you join us.
Tillman Richey and I visited at the
Christmas Tree sale benefitting the Orangefield FFA. He sells
trees there every year. We had an uninterrupted visit for about an
hour. We caught up on news of the family and rehashed memories. I saw his
"younger" twin brother, Bill, who looked dapper in a
tuxedo at his son, Chris' beautiful holiday wedding in December. Danny
Landry was working the Margarita machine for the reception. He
rents it out and mans it. Sorry Danny, but I can't put my
hand on your business card to give you a plug at the moment.
With Gary Barbin's help, I have Jane
Elliott Perry's website at work. Check it out. I have added
her home e-mail address in the CLASS LISTING.
I also heard from Carole Oubre, Loretta LaLonde, Jack
Etheredge, Ernie Casteneda, Billy Fowler, Linda Blakley, Robert Sandoval, Laura
Meece, Debbie Borres, Danny Landry, Fred McCarty, Barry Boudreaux,
and Lizbeth Branick.
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CLASSMATE MAKES THE 6:00 NEWS
I hope that you will all enjoy this article about Hal
Ross. Hal has done a wonderful job as MANAGER of the Southeast
Texas Regional Airport (formerly known as Jefferson County Airport in
Nederland). Hal hasn't just sat on his duff. He is a CPA and an
attorney and uses his expertise to run the airport. Good job, Hal.
Hal
Ross Has The Support To Remain Airport Manager
December 12,2006
It appears the manager of the Southeast Texas Regional
Airport will keep his job when County Judge-elect Ron Walker takes office next
month.
Walker has told KFDM that he wants a new manager, but will support Commissioner
Mark Domingue's choice for the job because Domingue is the commissioners' liason
to the airport and the airport is in his precinct.
All of the commissioners, except for Bo Alfred have now said they intend to
support Hal Ross.
Alfred told us he's yet to make a decision.
Jefferson County pays Ross $91,036 for the combined duties of probate attorney
and airport manager.
He'll be paid that until the end of this month.
But once the new year starts, he won't get a salary for doing probate.
He's paid $48,567 for his airport duties.
Based on a salary survey of airports close in size to Jefferson County's,
Commissioner Domingue is recommending that as of January 1st, 2007, Ross should
make $82,000 as full-time airport manager.
Domingue says depending on a satisfactory job performance, the annual salary
might be raised to $85,000 in January 2008.
This is the list Domingue reviewed:
Airport Manager Salaries:
Killeen $81,576
Laredo $100,900
Tyler $69,075
Waco $81,403
College Station $88,000
Abilene $91,757
Fort Smith, Ark. $87,500
Lake Charles, La. $108,000
Lafayette, La. $91,460
Commissioner Domingue says leaving out the two high airports, Laredo and Lake
Charles, the average is $84,395.
Domingue tells KFDM the Southeast Texas Regional Airport has 25 employees and an
operating budget of $3.5 million.
In a letter sent to commissioners Monday, Domingue wrote:
"The airport is entering a critical stage of reconfiguration and
reconstruction that will involve more than $8 million and will impact both
commercial and general aviation for years. Since Hurricane Rita, Mr. Ross has
been immersed in all aspects of airport reconstruction, funding, and strategic
planning. The fact that he is a certified public accountant and a licensed
attorney is certainly an added benefit during this critical period. I therefore
am comfortable in recommending to the Commissioners' Court that Hal Ross be
appointed as full-time airport manager as of January 1, 2007."
Ross told KFDM, "This is probably the most exciting job I can recall having
in quite some time."
Ross' immediate priority is the renovation of the main terminal.
The terminal is 41,000 square feet, and Ross believes that much terminal space
is not needed for an airport that only sees about 130 passengers a day.
Ross has recommended to commissioners that 24,000 square feet be set aside for
airline business, and the rest of the terminal be leased for other ventures.
Ross says, "That frees up 17,000 square feet that we can use for retail,
office space, or banquet facilities for something to support a hotel."
Commissioners approved the design plan Monday afternoon, and the county will be
requesting construction bids by July 6th, 2007.
The $8.2 million price tag, which also includes a new roof for the terminal
that's already been completed, will be covered by a federal grant for Hurricane
Rita.
Commissioner Domingue says, "Rita has provided us with a great opportunity
by converting obsolete assets into cash that we can now re-invest wisely."
Cuts in operating expenses and jet fuel fee increases have reduced the airport's
dependency on taxpayers by more than $600,000 during the past three years.
Ross tells KFDM,"The airport needs to be profitable, and I think it can
be."
Ross remains committed to bringing more commercial air service to the county.
He says that will benefit not just Jefferson County, but the entire region.
angels@kfdm.com
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CONDOLENCES
(Death of our fellow classmate and friend)
Harry Don "Donnie" Wade
Oct. 5, 1949-Dec. 31, 2006
Obituary
is on our website
Florence "Sissie" Woods Cox Kilcrease
(loss of her husband, Ken Kilcrease, on Nov. 20, 2006)
RR1 Box 158
Pineland, TX 75968
sissiecox@templeinland.com
Barry Boudreaux
(loss of his dad, Theodore Roosevelt Boudreaux, on Jan. 2, 2007)
3319 Highland Laurels
Kingwood, TX 77345
(281)361-5540
Visitation from 4-9pm at Grammier Oberle on Friday, January 5, 2007
Rosary at 7pm (Fri)
Funeral at 10am Saturday, January 6, 2007 at the funeral home
Please support these classmates with your comforting presence, words, and
prayers.
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WEBSITE CONTRIBUTIONS
Here are the latest contributors that sent in $$$$ to
help with the future cost of the PAID WEBSITE. The class
of '68 cannot thank you ENOUGH.
Linda Blakley Rindlishbacher
"Here is a check to help with the website. You and Mike do a terrific
job. Thak you so much for your time and dedication. I love getting
all of the UPDATES, etc. Have a very Merry Christmas and the best of a New
Year."
Lizbeth Branick
"Thank you, and Mike, for the wonderful TJHS website, and for keeping us
all informed. It is really nice to receive the updates. Merry
Christmas to you and yours."
Richard Daniels
"I've enclosed a check to help out with the costs. Thanks for getting
David Salter and I connected. We traded e-mails last week. It was
really nice catching up and I hope to talk with him by phone over the holidays.
Thanks also to you and Mike for all the hard work you do. The website is
wonderful! Happy Holidays."
Other classmate contributors previously listed have been:
Carmen Babin, Jody Hopkins, Gary Barbin, Charles Cramer, Fred McCarty,
Tommy Thompson, Terry Watson, Glenda Patin, & Janis Hamilton.
FYI:
I have had e-mails requesting the information again
on where to send checks to help maintain the site when we get the paid
site on the internet. (Remember that the one that we are
on now is a free site). The approximate cost for a deluxe plan is
$9.00 a month. I will tell you the exact amount when we are actually
signed up. I have set up an account just for the website at 5 Point Credit
Union (formerly Texaco Credit).
Send contributions to:
Linda DeCuir McFadden
112 Woodsong
Bridge City, TX 77611
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Well, I guess you had to take a couple of potty/stretch breaks reading all the
news on this UPDATE. Now, if something you read triggers a memory or
response, then don't hesitate to contact me. Do it before you
FORGET. Our memory span is just so long and then....not what was I saying?
Please know that Mike and I love the "pats on the back". Who
doesn't? But, you are the ones who contribute the news and photos.
We just compile them. I would hate to think of what the WEBSITE would
be without all of your input~~~. Oh, I do know what it would be.....NON-EXISTENT!!! Until
we "meet" again...
Stay safe and keep in touch,
Linda
DeCuir McFadden
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